Game apparatus



1 Se t. 27, 1938. M BINK 2,131,091

GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4, 1936 4'SheetsSheet 1 v INVENTOR.

Melvin J Blinks MMCZMM H15 ATTORNEYS.

M. J. BINKS sept. 27, 1938.

GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4, 1936 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 H15 ATTORNEYS Sept. 27, 1938. M. J. BINKS 2,131,091

GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 27, 1938.

M. J. BINKS 2,131,091

GAME APPARATUS Filed JE1I1. 4, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES GAME APPARATUS Melvin J. Binks, Chicago, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Exhibit Supply Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 4, 1936, Serial No. 57,471

. 9 Claims.

This invention relates to game apparatus,

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved game apparatus which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and eflicient in use.

- Another object of the present invention is to provide in an amusement apparatus, of the type which employs balls or marbles or analogous counters or missiles, the combination of a cabinet including a ball-playing surface provided with a ball seat; a source of light arranged in said cabinet on one side of said ball seat a photo-sensitive cell in said cabinet adapted to be actuated by a beam of light from the said source of light; said beam of light being rendered efiective to energize said photo-sensitive cell by the action of a ball disposed upon said seat.

An additional object of the invention, related to the foregoing object, is to construct the device in such a manner that the beam of light is rendered effective to energize the said photosensitive cell by the action of a transparent or translucent ball arranged upon the said ball seat.

to construct the device in such a mannerthat the photo-sensitive cell may be energized onlj after the last of a predetermined number of balls has been played; to construct the apparatus photo-sensitive cell may be utilized to actuate an instrumentality of an amusement apparatus;

to provide novel means, associated with the coin control .of the, apparatus, for controlling the to enter into the said ball seat will close a switch to operate a revolving disc having score-indicating indicia thereon.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts tobe hereinafter Other objects of the present invention are:

in such a manner that the energiz'ation of the operation of the photo-sensitive ,cell and the source-of light for the same; and to construct the apparatus in such a manner that the ball about (Cl. 273-138) I r 7 line 4-4 in Fig, 3, showing the ball seats gate;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a view on line 6-6 in Fig. 3, partly' in section and partly in elevation, showing part 5 of the ball-elevating device embodied in the invention;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view Fig. 6; w I

Fig. 8 is a top plan view, partlyin section, online8-8inFig.2; A v

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view on line 9-9 in Fig. 2, showing a coin-operated switch embodied in the invention;- 7

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of the switch shown in Fig. 9 and is a view of the side opposite to thatwhich is' shown in Fig. 9; a

Fig. 11.is an elevational View, on line ll-ll in Fig. 3, showing certain parts of a tilt-indicating device embodied in the invention;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of an electrical circuit embodied in the invention. An amusement apparatus embodying a preferred form of the present invention is shown in the drawings, is therein generally'indicated at I5, and comprises an upright cabinet l6 which includes side walls I! and I8, a bottom wallil9, a transparent frontwall 20, and a vertical partition or wall 2| which is arranged in the cabinet l6 behind the transparent front wall20 (Fig. 2).

Arranged in the cabinet l6 are oppositely in-' clined ball runways 22 and 23 (Figs. 1 and 2) which are adapted to conduct balls by gravity from a point adjacent the top wall 25 of the cabinet onto a vertical series, of staggered and inclined bafiles or ball runways 24 which arearranged upon the partition 2| between the latter and the transparent front wall'20 (Figs. 1 and 2) and extending exteriorly of the cabinet It on the side wall I! thereof is a handle 26 which is adapted to elevate played balls from the lowermost ball runway 21 in the cabinet, up onto the uppermost ball runway 22,,by means of an elevating device, which will bedescribed hereinafter; it being noted that the general designof the cabinet l6 having the ball runways and bafl'les 22-23-24 arranged 1 therein forms the subject matter of Design Patent No. 87,840 granted to Claude R. Kirk. v

Provided at the lower end of the lowermost one of the ball runways 24, which is indicated at 24a, is a ball-receiving trough or support 21 which is. adapted to support a plurality of balls ormarbles 28 and 29 (Figs. 1 and 3), the ball 29 being transparent for a reason to be explained presentand on line 1-1 in indicating indicia 44 (Fig. 1).

alignment with the latter and with the source of. light 3|, is a photo-sensitive cell which is generally indicated at 32, the photo-sensitive cell 32 and the source of light or lamp 3| being arranged, together with other devices presently to be described, in an electrical circuit which is generally indicated at 33 (Fig. 12).

The present invention includes. a plurality'of electrical circuits which are shown in Fig. 12, and which are generally referred to as the cir-- cuit' 33; This circuit 33'includes a suitable source of energy 99 which, in the present invention, may be a conventionalllOvolt power-line, audit also includes anauxiliary or, controlcircuit 33" which is formed as a part ofthe general circuit 33. The general'circuit 33 also includes an auxiliary circuit |20 which includes a suitable source of en-' ergy 34,1and' this circuit |20- embodies 'a secondary circuit I20. Likewise embodied in the circuit 133 is an auxiliary circuit I25 which has -a suitable source of energy, which maybe, for example, a" batteryiof dry cells arranged -in the cabinet IS.

The circuit to an amplifierunit 40 of the photoelectric cell 32 is preferably connected directly'to' the power intake 99 of an ordinary 110 volt A. C. circuit 'for the reason that the amplifier tube may not always heat. to its operating temperature in theshort time it takes the balls 2829 to: travel down'the runways 22--2324. i 1

Associated with the ball seat 30 and" engageable by a ball disposed therein is a switch 38 which is associated with a relay 14 (Fig; 12), this switch 38' being adapted to be closed by the action of a ball disposed-in the ball seat or opening 30. This 4'53 switch 38 when closed, under certain conditions hereinafter setforth,'actuates the relay 14and the latter, in turn, illuminates the lamp 3|.

Likewise provided in the ball support or trough 21 (Fig. 5) is a second ball'seat or opening 52 and ';associated with this ball seat '52 is .a switch 53,

this switch 53 being adapted, when closed, by a ball disposed upon the seat 52, to actuate a relay 13 which is arranged in the circuit 33 (Fig. 12).

Also arranged in the lowermost ball-runway 24a :is a switch 5| which is adapted, when closed by'a ball passingthereover, to actuate a relay 12 which is arranged in the circuit 33 (Fig. 12) for reasons to be-hereinafter set forth.

Arranged in the upper portion of the cabinet 16' (Fig. 2) is a vertical partition 4| and provided in this "partition 4| is a sight opening-42 (Fig. 1) Rotatably mounted in the cabinet I6, behind the partition 4|, and upon a horizontal shaft 45 (Figs. 2 and 12) is a disc 43 on which are provided score- Carried by the shaft-45 is a ratchet 46 and engageable with this ratchet '46 is a pawl 41 which,;in turn, is actuated bythe movable element or armature 48 of an electromagnet 49 (Figs. 2 and 12) this electromagnet 49 being arranged in the circuit 33 (Fig. 12) and being energized by the closing of the so-called roll over switch 5 I which is arranged in the lowermost runway 24a, (Figs. 1, 5 andl2). When the switch 5| is thus closed, by the action of a ball -passing overthe lowermost runway 24a, it energizes the relay 12 thereby attracting the two sides of the switch 96, embodied in the circuit I20, into engagement with each other; this in turn energies the electromagnet 49 and the latter acts, through the medium of the member 48, pawl 41, ratchet 46, and shaft 45 to rotate the disc 43, and when the disc 43 is thus rotated it will come to rest with one of the score-indicating numerical indicia 42 thereon visible through the sight opening 44, therebyindicating a score made by the ball passing over the switch 5|. The ball passing over the lowermost runway 24a to actuate the switch- 51, energizes the relay 12 so as to close the switch |2 embodied in the circuit 33, and this completes the circuit to the relays 13 and 14. It Will-therefore be seen that the switch 5| controls the relay 12 in order to set up an electrical circuit through the relays 13 and 14.

The arrangement of the switch 53 in the circuit 33 is such that a ball must be disposed upon the same, and another ball disposed upon the seat 30, in order to close the circuit 33and thereby actuate a-score-indicating instrumentality which is shown as having the form of an electric lamp 54 which is arranged in the cabinet |6 behind the partition 4|- and sight'opening 42.

slidably" mounted in the cabinet I6, adjacent the'ball seats 30 and 52 is a gate 56 (Fig. 5) and pivotally connected, as at 51, to the gate 56 is a ball-ejecting member'36 which is pivotally mounted,-between its ends, as at 31, in the cabinet l6, thisball-ejecting member 36 having'an end portion 35 which is adapted to be projected into the ball seat or opening 30 so as to eject or dislodge a ball'29 therefrom (Fig. 5).

The gate 56 has a laterally extending latch arm I00 (Fig. 6) and engageable with this latch arm I00 isthe movable element of' an electromagnet 89 which is arranged in the circuit 33'. Likewise carried by-the gate 56 is an arm -|0| (Fig. 6) and engageable with this arm- |0| is a laterally extending arm I02 of a ball-receptacle or carrier 58,-andengageable under the lower end portion I05 of the member |00 (Fig. 6) is a notched portion' |03--of a spring-urged latch member I04 which is pivotally mountedin the cabinet |.6, as at I06 (Fig.6). 9 1 a The ball carrier or receptacle 58 is slidably mounted upon an inclined guideway or rail 59 which is arranged in the cabinet I6 (Fig. 3). Attached to the ball-carrier or receptacle 58, as at 60, is the lower end portion of a flexible element or chain 6| which is extended around a guide roller 62 (Fig. 3) the normally upper and outer end portion of this chain 6| being attached to a handle or finger grip 26 (Fig. l) which is slidably mounted in a slot or guideway 63 which is provided in the side wall 1 of the cabinet l5 so as to be accessible from outside the cabinet I6.

The ball receptacle or carrier 58 is pivotally or swingingly mounted, .as at 64, (Fig.3), upon a.

supporting frame I01, which, in turn, is slidably mounted upon the guideway 59, and when the carrier 58 is raised up, by the action of pulling down upon the handle 26 of the chain 6|, it engages a-trip I08, which is formed on the wall 22 (Fig. 3), thereby causing the carrier 58 to be pivoted so as to drop the balls therefrom into an opening 66, which is provided in the partition 4|, whereupon the balls will run by gravity into the inclined runway 22; it being noted that the opening 66 is normally closed by-a gate I09 which is slidably mounted upon the partition 4| and which is lifted by the carrier 58 when the latter is raised.

Mounted in an extension 61 of the side wall I8 of the cabinet I6 is a coin slide 68 (Figs. 1, 2 and 12) which is engageable with a movable element 69 of a switch 19 (Figs. 2, 9 and 12) which is arranged in the cabinet I6 and in an auxiliary or control circuit 33' (Fig. 12). Associated with this switch 10 is a second switch I24 and an electromagnet I3I (Figs. 9, 10 and 12) which constitute a main control relay I3I which, in turn, controls the circuit 33 (Fig. 12), in a manner which will be explained presently. The switch 19 is composed of two resilient arms and H5 which are normally disposed out of engagement with each other. The arm 85 is provided with an opening I26 to allow passage for a non-conductive pin I21 which projects laterally from the arm H5.

The present invention embodies a tilt-indicating or tell-tale device and the latter comprises a pendulum 15 which is swingingly mounted in the cabinet I6 and which is engageable with a stationary contact 16 (Figs. 3 and 12). Associated with this pendulum 15 is a relay or electromagnet 11 and associated with the latter is a movable element or latch member 18 which is pivotally mounted at its lower end, as at 19, (Fig. 12), this latch member 18 having an angled latch portion 88 which is latchingly engageable with the movable element or armature 8| of an electromagnet or relay 82 (Fig. 12).

Arranged in the circuit 33 is a timing device which comprises a solenoid 93 having a movable element or armature 94 (Fig. 2), the free end of which carries a piston I22 which is disposed within the cylinder of a dash pot I23. Carried by the movable element 94 is a cam II I which is engageable with an arm II2 of the movable element H3 of a switch which is arranged in the circuit 33.

A switch 84 is disposed in the auxiliary or control circuit 33, and one resilient arm of the said switch 84 is engageablewith a lug 83 which is pivotally mounted upon the coin slide 68.

Operation When the coin slide 68 is pushed in, the inner end of the same engages the movable element 69 of the switch 10 (Figs. 9 and 12) thereby causing the switch member 85 to move from left to right, and also causing the switch member H5 to move from left to right by the engagement of the pin I21 (through the opening I26 in the member 85) with the movable element 69. This movement of the switch member 85 causes the end portion II6 of the latter to engage and move past the latch portion 86, which is formed as a part of the armature 81, which is pivotally mounted as at 88 upon the supporting frame of the switch 18 and .is normally held in full line position by the spring I31. It is to be noted that the switch members 85 and H5 have not as yet, as shown in the drawings, been moved into engagement with each other. However, when the coin slide 68 is withdrawn (dotted to full line position, (Fig. 12) the switch members 85 and I I5 will likewise return toward initial position by their own resiliency. The end portion II6 of the switch member 85 will thereupon engage the latch portion 86 of the armature 81 (right side,

.Figs. 9 and 12). The switch member 5, however, will continue to move toward its initial position and the pin I21 carried thereby'will extend'through the opening I26 in the member 85 until the member II5 comes into engagement .with the member 85. V

When the switch 1015 closed current will flow Y from thesource of current .99 through the conductor I28, through the switch members 85 and H5, and conductor I29, into one side of the electromagnet I3I, through the latter, and from the opposite side of the same back into the source of current 99 by way of the conductor I3I], thus energizing the relay 1I, whereupon the free end portion I38 of the armature 81 will be attracted toward the core of the electromagnet I3I (clockwise, Figs. 10 and 12, counterclockwise, (Fig. 9). This movement of the armature 81 clockwise, (Figs. 10 and 12), about its'pivotal mounting 88, and against the action of its resetting spring I31, actuates the switch I24, that is to say, the center switch member I32'is urged from its normal position, in engagement with the switch member I33, into a momentary engagement with the switch member I34 by action of the pin I35 which is disposed within the bight portion of the member I32 (Fig. 10).

When the switch I24 is in the position last mentioned, current will then flow from the source of energy 99 along the conductor I28, through the switch 18, and the conductor I29, and into the switch I24, thence by way of the member I32 into the portion I34 thereof, and along theconductor I36 into one side ofthe electromagnet 89, and from the opposite side of the latter through the conductor I39 to the source of energy 99. The electromagnet89 will then attract the armature 99 and release the gate 56 so that the latter may drop by gravity into dotted line position, Fig. 5. The foregoing operation thereupon releases the played balls whichare disposed in the trough 21 and allows them to gravitate into the ball carrier 58, whereby they may be elevated to the starting point, at the opening 66, by operating the handle 26 which rides in the guideway 63 and projects exteriorly of the cabinet I6.

At the same time, that is, when the switch I24 is positioned with the member I32 in engagement with the member I34, current will likewise flow from the source of energy 99.along the conductor I28, through the switch 10, conductor I29, members I32 and I34 of the switch I24, through the conductor I36, and intoone side of .the electromagnet 82, thence from the opposite side of the latter, back into the source of energy 99 by way of the conductor I39, thus energizing the electromagnet 82. The electromagnet 82, upon being thus energized, will attract its movable element or armature 8| into its initial position (as in full lines, Fig. 12), against the ac-' tion of the resiliency of the member 8I,'which tends to urge the latter away from or outof engagement with the electromagnet 82. It is to be noted that the armature BI is latched in its. normal position by the angled. extension 80,- which is a part of the movable armature 18, and that said armature 18 is normally urged into engagementwith the armature 8! by a spring I43. 1

It is to be noted, further, regarding the momentary attraction of the armature 81 by the electromagnet I3I, that when the armature 81'isattracted the circuit 33 is broken between the switch members I32 and I33 of the switch I24, whereupon the relays 12, 13 and "will be restored into their initial or in'efiective positions, as shownin Fig. 12. l

Upon the attraction of the armature 81, toward theelectromagnet I3I, (clockwise, Fig. 12, counterclockwise, Fig. 9) 'the latch portion 86 of the armature 81' will move out of engagerrient with the end portion II6 of the switch member 85 and allow the latter and the switch member M5 to return to their initial positions (as in full lines, Figs. 9 and 12) c When the balls 28 -29 are elevated, to the opening 65, by means of the elevating device 5859 506 I-5263 and 26, the carrier 58 will assume the position shown in dotted lines (Fig. 3), and the balls 2829 will roll through the opening 66 in the partition 4| onto the runway 22 whereupon they will gravitate over the latter and the runways 2324 which are arranged in the cabinet I6.

It is to be noted that the arrangement of the runways 222324 is such that they change the positions of the balls relative to each other as the balls travel down the same.

The first ball to reach the lowermost runway 24a will, upon running down the latter, engage and close the switch 5|, thereby energizing the relay 12 and closing the corresponding switch 96 which is in the circuit I20 whereupon the electromagnet 49 will be energized and the latter,

' acting through the medium of the link 48 and pawl 41 will spin the ratchet 46, shaft 45, and disc 43, and when the disc 43 comes to rest one of the score-indicating numerals 44 thereon will be visible through the sight opening 42 (Fig. 1), thus indicating to the player a score made by the ball engaging the switch 5|.

When the switch 5| is thus closed, by the action of the first ball traveling down the lowermost runway 24a, it also completes the circuit 33 through the switch I2I so that the relays 13 and 14 may be energized when balls come to rest in the ball seats 30 and 52, wherein said balls are disposed upon the switches 38 and 53, respectively.

When the first ball comes to rest in the ball seat 30, it engages and closes the switch 38, thereby energizing the relay 14 and thus closing circuit to the light source or lamp 3| and the relay 13, and at the same time opening the circuit to the relay 49 so as to stop the rotation of the disc 43 by breaking the circuit I20 at the relay switch MI; and when the last of a predetermined number of balls employed comes to rest upon the ball seat 52 it will engage and close the switch 53, thereby energizing the relay 13 and thereby completing the circuit I20, whereupon current will fiow through the solenoid 93 to'energize the latter and thereupon attract the member 94, and when the latter reaches a predetermined position the arm III thereof engages the member II2, thus opening the switch 95 and thereby opening the main circuit 33 which controls the relays 1213 and 14, the device 93--94-I I95 thus timing the operation of the game apparatus: In the event that the ball disposed on the ball seat 30 is a transparent or translucent ball, such as the ball 29, the beam of light from the lamp 3| will be directed through the ball 29 and through the ball seat or opening 38 against the photo-sensitive cell 32, thereby energizing the latter, whereupon photoelectric current will, in passing through the unit 49, be amplified to energize the relay 91- and close the switch 98, thereby completing the circuit to the score-indicating lamp 54 or other instrumentality which may be employed in place of the lamp 54.

An example of the fiow of current for the foregoing operation will now be given in order that the device may be better understood.

When the first ball rolls over the switch 5|, closing the latter momentarily, current will flow from the source of energy 99 along the conductor I28 through the switch elements 9|, 92 and. by way of the conductor I44 into the switch 95, thence through the conductor I45, switch 84 and conductor I46 into the contact I33 of the switch I24 which-is normally disposed in engagement.

with the center switch member I32; thence through the latter into the conductors I29 and I41 into one side of the electromagnet of the relay 12, through the latter, thence through the switch 5| and back into the opposite side of the source of energy 99 by way of the conductor I49.

The foregoing fiow of current closes the switches 96 and I2I of the relay 12 so that when all the balls 28 and 29 have come to rest in the trough 21 the first and last balls will close the switches 38 and 53 respectively and current will then fiow from the source of energy 99 along the conductor I28, through the switch elements 9|,

92 and by way of the conductor I44 into the switch 95, thence through the conductor I45, switch 64, conductor I46, into the contact I33, which is normally disposed in engagement with the switch element I32; thence by way of the conductor I29 into the conductor I41, which is common to the relays 12, 13 and 14.v The switch 38 being the first to be closed, current will fiow from the opposite side of the electro-magnet in the relay 14 through the switch 38 and by way of the conductors I50 and I48 through the switch I2I' of the relay 12 (which is at this time disposed in closed position) thence back into the source of energy 99 by way of the conductor I49. The switch 53 being closed subsequent to the switch 38 will thereupon cause current to fiow from the opposite side of the electromagnet in the relay 13 into the switch 53, through the end by way of the conductors I59 and I48 into the switch I2I of the relay 12 and back into the source of energy 99 by way of the conductor I49.

It is to be noted that the circuit 33 to the relays 12, 13 and 14 may be broken in any one of several ways, namely:

(a) When the coin slide 68 is pushed in (left to right, Figs. 2 and 12), the lug 83, carried thereby, will engage the cam end of one resilient arm of the switch 84 and cause the same to be moved out of engagement with the opposite arm of the said switch 84 and open the circuit 33.

(b) When the cabinet I6 is tilted from its normal and proper operating position: whereupon the pendulum 15 will engage the contact 16 and thereby close the auxiliary circuit I25-to the relay 11 (Fig. 12) ,thus energizing the latter and causing the same to attract its movable armature 18, thereby pivoting the latter at 19 (clockwise, Fig. 12). This movement of the armature 18 moves the angled extension 80 thereof out of engagement with the movable arm 8| of the switch 9|, whereupon the said arm 8| will move, by its own resiliency, out of engagement with the contact 92 and thus open the switch 9| and the circuit 33 (Fig. 12)

(c) When play is completed the solenoid 93, which forms part of the timing device 93I I2- 95-I I394, will act upon the member 94 to attract the latter whereupon the cam 94 will engage the extension N2 of the switch member.

H3 and thus move the latter into position to open the switch 95 which, in turn, will open the circuit 33.

While in the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings the same has been illustrated as employing one transparent ball 29,

and five opaque balls 28, this arrangement may be varied considerably and the same results obflow through the latter (Fig. 2).

2,131,091 'tained, that is, instead of employing five opaque balls and one transparent ball, six transparent 'balls may be employed with a color screen of the the seat 30, obstructing the beam of light from the source or lamp SI to the photo-sensitive cell 32.

When the ball carrier or elevator 58 is raised, by means of the handle 26 and chain SI, the

arm I02 thereof engages the arm IOI of the gate 56, thereby raising the gate 56 into its normal position, and during this operation the spring H8 urges the member I04 (clockwise, Fig. 6), thereby moving the notched portion I03 of the member I04 under the arm I05 of the gate 56 and thus latching the latter in raised position and as the'gate 56 is lifted further upwardly the spring I I9 urges the latch member 90 under the arm I of the gate 56, thereby latching the latter in raised position.

It is to be noted that a switch I42 is embodied in the circuit I20 (Fig. 12) and that this switch I42 is normally closed, that is so that current may However, when the armature 48 is attracted by the electromagnet 49 (down, Fig. 2) the switch I42 will become severed in order to prevent the lamp 54 or other instrumentality from operating while the disc 43 is in motion (rotating).

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In an amusement apparatus, a cabinet including a member providing a ball-playing surface provided with a light-penetrable ball seat; a photo-sensitive cell arranged in the said cabinet at one side of said ball seat and a source of light arranged in the said cabinet upon the opposite side of the said ball seat from said cell and adapted when energized to direct a beam of light through said ball seat and against said'cell; said beam of light being rendered effective to energize said cell by a light penetrable ball disposed upon said seat; and said apparatus including an instrumentality operated by said cell when the latter is energized by said beam of light.

2. In an amusement apparatus, a cabinet including a member providing a ball-playing surface provided With a ball receptacle having a ball-receiving opening; a photo-sensitive cell arranged in the said cabinet upon one side of said opening and a source of light arranged in the said cabinet upon the opposite side of said opening and in alignment with the said opening and cell and adapted when energized to direct a beam of light through the said opening against the said cell; said beam of light being rendered effective to energize said cell by a ball disposed in said opening; and said apparatus including an instrumentality operated by said cell when the latter is energized, and circuit control means operably connected with said light source and with ball-operated switch means arranged for operation by balls in said'receptacle for rendering said light source active when a determined number of 1 balls are disposed in a predetermined manner in said receptacle, one of said balls being disposed in said opening therein in the path of light from said source tosaid photo-cell.

3. In an amusement apparatus of the type having: an upright cabinet including a vertically extending series of inclined ball runways, control means comprising a pair of spaced light-penetrable ball seats provided in the lowermost ofsaid runways; a photo-sensitive cell in the said cabinet 'on one side of said ball seats and a source of light paratus, of the kind having: anupright cabinet including a vertically extending series of in- 'clined ball runways and means for releasing balls to descend over said runways, ball-operated mechanism comprising a pair of spaced ball seats in a said runway and one of which is'translucent;

a photo-sensitive cell in the said cabinet on one side of said ball seats and a sourceof ligh ti in the said cabinet on the other side of said-ball seats and adapted when energized to direct a beam of light through the translucent one of said ball seats against said cell; said beam of light being rendered eifective to energize said cell by a translucent ball disposed upon the translucent one of said seats; a controlled device; and means including a device actuated by a ball disposed upon the other of said seats, and coacting with said cell when the latter is energized,

for operating said controlled device.

5. In an amusement apparatus including: a cabinet with a member providingfa ball-playing surface provided with a pair of spaced seating openings; a photo-sensitive cell in the said cabinet on one side of a particular one of said ball openings and a source of light in the said cabinet on the other side of said particular ball opening and adapted when energized to direct a beam of light through said particular ball opening at said 1 cell; said beam of light being rendered effective to energize said cell by the action of a transparent ball disposed upon said particular ball-seat opening; and means including a device actuated by a 1 ball disposed upon the other of said ball-seating tioned to receive light from said source through said seat, an instrumentality operably controlled by said photo-cell, ball-operated switch means arranged in said receptacle and in circuit with said light source to control an energizing circuit therefor, a power source, said ball-operated switch means being connected in circuit with said power source in such manner that said determined number of balls must be disposed in said receptacle in a predetermined manner to efiect actuation of said controlled instrumentality.

7. In an amusement apparatus including a plurality of balls, at least one of which is translucent, the combination of: a member providing a ball playing surface having a ball receiving seat through which light may pass, a photo-sensitive device arranged at one side of said seat and a source of lightarranged at the opposite side of said seat from said photo-sensitive device and efiective when energized to direct light through said seat and a translucent ball thereon onto said device, said light source being arranged to be energized by switch means controlled by a ball disposed on another ball receivingseat arranged in said playing surface, and means for efiecting movement of said balls to change their relative positions with respect to said ball receiving seats.

8. In combination, a ball runway having opposite ends and means for effecting movement of a plurality of balls into and out of said runway across the runway as aforesaid, and an instrumentality controlled by said photo-electric device and actuated by the same when said certain ball is in a predetermined position to intercept said light projected toward the photo-electric desaid balls into and out of the runway to change their relative positions in said runway, photoelectric control means arranged to be actuated by light projected across said runway, said projected light being operably controlled by the presence of a relatively translucent control ball at a particular end of said runway inlthe path of said projected light, said control means including a light source arranged for energization to project light as aforesaid, a first switch means arranged at said particular end of the runway for actuation by said control ball to energize said light source, an 'instrumentality operably controlled by said photo-electric control means, a second switch means arranged for operation by another ball in said runway other than said control ball and cooperable with said photo-electric means to control said instrumentality.

" MELVIN J. BINKS. 

